Hi guys! Merry Christmas! (two days late but what's the difference?)

I finally managed to get my butt working on a new chapter. And, well, here we go.

In this one, Sakura's mom has arranged for a meeting with Sasuke, and the 'couple' is anything but ready to do just that. Can the two manage to actually learn how to act like a decenty convincing couple for Kana Haruno or will this be the end of their fake relationship?

UPDATE: 2015
Also working on a comic version, with original characters and everything. Proj. in progress
Come and support!
Tumblr: sammakesamess
DeviantArt: MemorySoul

Step 3: THE 'MOM'S FIRST IMPRESSION' Pt1

Sakura's mom has arranged for a meeting with Sasuke, and the 'couple' is anything but ready to do just that. Can the two manage to actually learn how to act like a decenty convincing couple for Kana Haruno or will this be the end of their fake relationship?

"You, are the most selfish, unreliable, jerk in the world, Sasuke Uchiha!"

"Well you're no picnic either!"

Two girls were passing by down the hall, while Sasuke and I meanwhile were glaring intently at each other. "Aren't they just cute?" one of them giggled, Sasuke and I barely loosing focus on one another. This was routine, us arguing, but it wasn't something much to worry about. If anything, arguing only meant 'good' for strangers and nonstrangers - the non strangers being:

"I still don't get how they can pull off being a fake couple acting like that all the time," Kiba commented cynically a few lockers down next to Naruto. He watched with a sweatdrop as Sasuke and I pitted back and forth insults at each other like Kindergaten children. It was quite commical, really. "What are they fighting about this time, anyway?"

Naruto shrugged. "Dunno. It could range from one thing to another, really," he muttered casually and somewhat annoyed. He turned his head towards Sasuke and I and had the same reaction as Kiba, however Naruto quickly diverged towards a scowl before slamming his locker.

In reality, Sasuke and I were both currently, and probably for only the next few minutes, in a feud about yesterday's skateboarding session at his house. Now that this whole deal's been back up and stuff, I've returned to taking skateboarding lessons in Sasuke's backyard. Apparently yesterday after dark (after the guys had left) it was just us in his lit up mini skate park practicing my ollies until Itachi out of no where came by to 'check on us'. If by checking on us you mean pushing Sasuke down towards me while skateboarding and landing in an awkward position, then yes.

Then strangely enough at the moment instead of blaming Itachi, we've wound up blaming each other somehow.

"Like I'd want to feel your flat chest of all people's."

"You're lucky we're in school, Uchiha," I glared with a warning pointing finger.

Suddenly an out-of-nowhere flash came on, catching both Sasuke and I by surprise. Turning sideways, wearing expectant expressions, we noticed Ino standing there with a camera in hand and reacted with simultaneous sweatdrops. "Cute one guys," Ino grinned.

Of course it's her. "Ino what are you doing?" I asked with an exasperated tone.

"Recording your moments! Isn't it obvious?" A second flash from her camera, causing Sasuke and I to flinch at the bright light.. "Just you wait, Sakura - this will all come in handy I bet soon enough. Now all I need of you guys is holding hands and I'll be satisfied for the day."

Sasuke and I began walking in opposite directions, the both of us replying, "No way," until she rushed to grab both our wrists to keep from escaping her presence. "Come on you guys it can't be that bad. You know, I haven't gotten you guys a picture on an actual date yet~" With our indifferent yet mirroring looks starring her down, Ino gave an aggravated sigh. "That's it - Meeting upstairs in the office."

"Since when does she call meetings in our territory?" Sasuke sneered. He and I were still in Ino's wrist-hold.

"She doesn't," I said plainly. "Just go with it, get it over with. At least we're not holding hands, heaven forbid."

And so within the next few minutes, the entire gang was assembled upstairs on the empty fourth floor old office room. It's amazing how orderly this all came to be within such short notice. Everyone was spread out in their usual lounge spots around the room. The only difference here today was Ino standing at the front of a space with an out-of-place maneuverable chalk board that wasn't here before. And on the front was written out in heavy white chalk: THE LAYOUT.

... Yeah I really don't know what she's doing, either.

"Okay, we're six minutes into free period now so what are we doing here?" Shikamaru spoke out impatiently.

Ino had her hands on her hips. "We're here to establish the ground rules of dating!" She speaks like she's a military general...

I made an honestly skeptical face. "You're telling me and Sasuke how we should date..." Secretly it sounds reasonable. I still have no idea what I'm doing, but it's not like I'm going to admit that.

"Then why are we here?" Naruto questioned, motioning to him and the rest of the guys, not including Sasuke and me. "See I'd rather much be eating-"

"Everyone shut up!" Ino ordered, silence following. Content with the results, she returned to her 'LAYOUT' board and flipped it over until the board's opposite side behind it was upright. On it this second surface was written down two phrases, along with columns and rows of blank taped paper rectangles, most likely covering other phrases. "This, is the layout." When did she find the time to make all this? "As you can see, the first two steps are already revealed, signaling they are already accomplished. And they are 'THE ANNOUNCING' and 'THE DAD'S FIRST IMPRESSION'. Do we all follow?" Not really.

"Just get on with it, General Blondie," Shikamaru groaned.

She ignores and directs her arm towards the rest of the taped index cards on the board. "The rest of these still-blocked steps indicate other aspects of a successful relationship. And obviously out of practically two dozen, only two are already good. What does that mean?"

"That Sasuke and I aren't a very good couple," I shrugged. "In case you've forgotten, Ino, we're not really dating remember?"

"Exactly! And it's lack of all these steps that will cause others to believe you aren't dating, either! It's the student body and your families that decides whether your relationship is true - not you two, got it?" Sadly she's right. "So, are you two willing to go through all these steps to accomplish your goal?"

"I'd be more willing if I could actually read them," Sasuke complained, starring at the countless paper rectangles covering Ino's 'steps'.

"Bad idea. The whole exposure of the board would only overwhelm you. It's best we tackle this fore coming problem one step at a time," Ino advised in a serious manner. I swear, is this really necessary? She removed the paper rectangle under THE ANNOUNCING and THE DAD'S FIRST IMPRESSION. This third step showed 'THE MOM'S FIRST IMPRESSION.'

"There's a Mom's First Impression step?" Neji asked in honest-to-God confusion.

"Of course! If Kakashi if all people should have an opinion then the mom should as well!"

"No she doesn't. She doesn't need to meet Sasuke. Ever," I spoke in a stern and barley panicking voice as it rose in volume. Mom meeting Sasuke would practically mean THE END of my fake relationship, meaning the end of my plan. Our plans. "Can't we skip to step four or something?"

"No," Ino replies. "This must go in order." Why does there have to be an order?

Naruto rolled his eyes at Ino's reasoning. "So in all this jumbled mess, what exactly is your plan supposed to be, Ino?"

"... Yeah I was hoping Sakura could cover for me on that one - Sakura?"

I made another exasperated face at her. "Like I know plans? I'm just going with what happens, and frankly so is Sasuke."

"Haruno's got a point," Sasuke shrugged. "Besides, her old man knows about the whole deal so shouldn't it be more smooth sailing from here on out when it comes to dealing with Haruno's Mom?"

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Shouldn't it be more smooth sailing from here on out when it comes to dealing with Haruno's Mom? Yeah right. "Oh my gosh, Sakura. This Sasuke sounds like such a gentleman from what Kakashi's told me so far about him!"

My grin twitched as my grip on my fork and knife tightened. "I-Is that so." Tonight was one of those rare nights where both Kakashi and Mom were home, so we were able to eat a home cooked meal together for dinner, courtesy of Kakashi, of course. Only this time, the normal awkwardness and problems were replaced with 'focus on the only child'. "Sasuke's been great. W-We both have."

Mom was smiling behind her napkin as she wiped her lips. "I think it's time that we've had proper introductions, Sakura." No it's not.

"Mom do we have to? I mean, meeting the parents is so old-school."

"Well he's going to be your fiance isn't he? I think it's appropriate for me to want to meet the boy who's going to be sweeping my daughter of her feet," she smiled with a bemused laugh. Oh of only she knew. Wait, I take that back.

Then again, Ino did say the next step was my Mom's first impression. Maybe this was fate slapping me in the face. "Well uh, sure I guess, if you want to meet him." I fought against mentioning he lived just across the culdesac. "When?"

"Why not after school on Friday - At the Higurashi Bar? You two could make it can't you? Nothing after school?"

Except skateboarding practice. "No we're both free," I smiled, imagining me able to miss one of those annoying practices. "But really, the Higurashi Bar?" I don't know much about restaurants and what critics say about them, but I know that this particular restaurant is supposed to be pretty expensive and decently formal-fitting. Not really Mom's standards of her fancy but, well, you know, to us normal people it's a pretty fancy place.

"Oh I know it's a commoner's idea of eating out but I thought it'd make the perfect atmosphere for al of us to get acquainted." Please - a true commoner's idea of eating out is the next door hamburger joint with free refills. The last place I want to find myself sitting in is at a stifling restaurant stuck between over-priced food, parents, and Sasuke. "So Sakura, is it a plan?"

I guess if we have Kakashi to back us up... "Sure. Why not?" I nodded with a dazzling little-daughter's smile. I turned to my supposed father. "Are you going to be picking us up after school on Friday, Kakashi?"

"Ah no, Kana, I'll be working a make-up shift at work that day so I'm afraid I won't be able to accompany you guys to the restaurant. My bad."

"Oh that's too bad," I smiled apologetically. But the inners of my mind screeched 'traitor'. He just wanted out because he knew just as well as I did how bad this whole event is going to turn out to be. Damn and I already agreed to go.

"Oooh Friday is going to be so much fun! Looks like it'll be just me, you, and your boyfriend Sasuke. Won't we have such a splendid time?" Mom asked, grasping my hands in hers with brimming shining eyes.

"I know right?" Lightning strike me now.

After dinner (aka swallowing everything on my plate so I could excuse myself as quickly as possible) I ran and bombarded myself in the comforts of my bedroom, locking the door and sinking to the carpeted floor. I held my head as a headache began forming, preventing myself from screaming. "This can not be happening...!" I whined to myself. My week's only began and already it's off to a bad start. But hey, it's Monday. The meeting's Friday. So I have at best four days to prepare for the worst. Sasuke and I can barely play out being a good couple in school, so how do I expect us to act in love and in front of my Mom? Just thinking about the situation sent nervous butterflies through my stomach.

While sitting against the door, I heard a knock coming from the window, which spooked the living day lights out of me. I jolted a bit until I realized Sasuke's faint outline at the window's ledge. Kind of hard not to recognize the hair shape, really. Realizing who it was, I jumped straight up to open my window across the room, unlatching the lock and feeling the cool night air hitting my neck. "Sasuke?" I asked out of pure astonishment. "What are you doing here?"

After climbing into my room and standing upright, he showed me his notebook under his arm. "What's the homework?" he asked.

My face blanked in both confusion and disbelief. What did he just sat? "Huh?"

"What's the homework?" he repeated, waving his heavy notebook in front of my face. "I didn't write it down today."

"Like you ever?" I scoffed, finding it odd that'd he'd come all the way here just to ask such a stupid question. "So why are you really here?"

"Your dad texted me," he said, taking out his phone from his back pocket. It's a weird creepy feeling knowing your dad texts your boyfriend, even he is your fake boyfriend. "Something about 'talk with Sakura now if you know what's good for you'."

"And that meant you had to come here and climb through my window?"

"Hey it's Kakashi. I'm not taking any more chances against that guy." Sasuke seated himself comfortably and lazily on the couch near my door. "So, what's up?"

"Our first date - that's what's up," I replied, tossing his notebook back at him without giving any chance of warning.

"Whoa wait hold up," he said, barely catching the notebook. Nonetheless he tossed it aside on the couch and stood back up as I crossed my arms. "Repeat what you just said. I speak English not crap."

"You heard me," I said sternly with a shove. He was getting too close past my comfort zone. "Mom thought it'd be a good idea to meet you on Friday after school. She's taking us out to eat and we have until Friday to pull off this thing."

Sasuke gave me a short yet long stare. There was no reply yet. "I didn't even agree to go yet," he stated.

"Not my problem. My mom doesn't take into account other people's personal schedules and I know that for a fact," I explained with every truthful fiber of my being. "And if you back out, which you can, it'll make you look bad in front of my Mom - which means trouble for me."

"Wait so what if I give your mom a bad impression? Is that really supposed to affect me?" he asked with a laugh.

"Yes. It does. Bad boyfriend means that she'll make me 'break up' with you which also means, you'll be single again," I pointed smitefully.

"Damn," he realized, trying to think a way around all this. "So what do we do?"

Is it not already obvious? "We GO. That's what we do!" I repeated, stating the obvious to this guy.

Suddenly a spiteful smirk appeared on the Uchiha's lips. The corner of his lip curled up and his chin rested over his fingers. "I'll go along with this charades, on one condition."

Of course, I thought with an eye roll. "What is it."

"Ask me out on a date."

Blank. "No way."

"Hey technically you already asked- no, demanded me to go, and I already agree that I'll go. I just want you to actually say it straightforwardly."

"BUT WHY?"

"Because it annoys you," he grinned.

Hell yeah it will. "Do I really have to?" I gritted through my teeth, to which he responded with an intense look in his eye, which meant 'Yes'. Knowing he wouldn't go along with this unless I did so, I swallowed my pride and exhaled. A small price to pay to save my soul. "Will. you. go. on. a. date. with. me."

Sasuke got a short laugh out of that, standing up and walking towards me with a clap. "Normally I'd say 'with feeling', but it'd seem that you've already had enough." He walked past me, but not before hitting the back of my head with his notebook and towards the window. "Later, rich girl."

I grasped the back of my head and turned around with a steamed expression. "At least say yes or something!"

Half his leg was already out the window. "See ya at school tomorrow."

I heard him slide down a drain pipe of some sort as I ran to the window, ticked off at his response - or rather his lack of response. I can not believe him. Before he could disappear out of my sight and into the dark shadows of the front yard, I yelled out without thinking, "SASUKE UCHIHA YOU ARE THE MOST IMPOSSIBLE PERSON IN THE WORLD!"

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DATE: TUESDAY

The school bell rung as students swarmed around for lunch break. Many made their way to their lockers to change books before going to the cafeteria to eat, including me and Naruto. We were both heading in the same direction so we sort of walked together, during which I explained the predicament of last night to him.

"And since Kakashi bailed, it's just going to be me, my mother, and Sasuke."

"Talk about awkward," Naruto admitted sympathetically. "Is your Mom that scary?"

"It's not so much that she's scary, really. It's just... let's just say she's worse than Kakashi."

Naruto took a moment to compare the two Haruno parents. His and the guys last encounter with the masked man wasn't really a good memory to reminence on for Naruto. Someone worse only intrigued Naruto, but he resisted asking more about it. He had a vague idea of how our situation seemed. "Is acting like a couple really that hard for you two?"

"We wouldn't be having this problem if it were easy now would we?" I shut my locker and we made our way to the cafeteria. "Any advice?"

"You're asking me for advice?" Naruto practically barked. "Sorry but I've got nothing."

I sighed and scratched the back of my head. "Neji told me the same thing in homeroom. Geez all you boys are useless."

"Hey I take offense to that," Naruto said as we neared the guy's usual table. Along the days, Ino and I found ourselves sitting with them everyday. I only realized that now though. Though arriving at the scene, Ino (unusually early) seemed to be discussing something with the guys until Naruto and I arrived.

"Hi guys," I greeted. "Something up?"

"Why didn't you tell me you and Sasuke have a date!" Ino lunged, shaking my shoulders as I dropped my bag. "You could've called or texted or e-mailed me or something! This is important, you know!"

This is exactly why I told you nothing. Once I got her to stop shaking me, I leaned to the right to see Sasuke casually eating. "Did you tell Ino?"

"Someone was bound to," Sasuke replied, eating a fry. "Besides, you just told Naruto just now didn't you?"

"S-So what if I did?"

"Thought so," Sasuke sighed. "Anyway, I only told Ino because I was asking her for help."

"You were?" both Naruto and I asked. Did I hear him right?

I looked to Ino, who gave me in return a slight giggle. "It's true," she smiled. "Sasuke Uchiha swallowed his pride to ask me how to act on a date. Guess he has more to him than I expected." She says that like I would never give in to asking for help. "So, you want in too on Dating-Etiquette-101 or should Sasuke take this solo while you look bad in front of your mom trying to figure out why Sasuke's acting so perfect?"

I highly doubt Ino can transform Sasuke enough to make him act like any perfect date, but I suppose it wouldn't hurt at this point to try anything. Three days left, remember? "Fine."

"Yay!" Ino clasped her hands together. "This is gonna be so much fun!" She reminds me so much of mother, it scares me. She removed some paper from her tote bag. "Here! These are tips I printed out for you and Sasuke!"

The rest of the guys at the table sweatdropped. "She already had something prepared..."

I took the paper and gave it a good overlook, as did Sasuke whom Naruto and Kiba inspected as well. Avoid insults. Always open a chair for the girl. Always make small-talk/ avoid long silences. Never ask to leave unless it's an emergency- Ino what kind of tips are these? They're like common sense."

"Exactly. But neither you or Sasuke can seem to follow them right when you're with each other." Sasuke and I exchanged momentary glances. "Therefore we'll be taking the time we do have for 'date-training' after school until Friday."

"Whoa whoa hey wait a sec," Shikamaru interrupted, walking up to the blonde. "Who are you to start calling off or skateboarding practices?"

Ino smirked, facing the teen. "Would you rather they fail the first date and end up missing more than just a few days worth of skateboarding practices?" It would appear Ino had cornered Shikamaru, so he remained silent in defeat. "So, Sakura, Sasuke, you guys up for it?"

"I guess," I sighed, starring back down at the rest of the paper.

"Whatever," Sasuke hmphed, tossing his paper aside on the table. "This is so stupid, though. I don't see the point."

Ino slammed her hand down on the table across Sasuke. "Number one, loose the fricken attitude, Uchiha. It's starting to annoy me."

"Good," Shikamaru scoffed.

"What'd you say?" Ino asked with a vein. Meanwhile I sighed, rubbing my elbow. This is going to be the longest week ever.

"This ought to be fun," Kiba smirked, Neji nodding beside him with an unsure Naruto in the background. And quite frankly I was nervous, too. Ino taking charge was surely something odd and unusual. And Sasuke's going along with this so easily, too.

THAT AFTERNOON

Once school was over, Ino had dragged us all to the mall, already starting to fill with students who tend to come here as a hang out during after school hours. Our group was huddled around the food court, Sasuke and I seated next to each other by force. (We had initially sat apart way far from each other).

"Okay, today's lesson. Complimenting," Ino said sternly.

After giving an odd look Kiba scoffed. "Complimenting? How the hell is that a lesson? That's easy stuff!"

"For you, ya perve," Naruto remarked.

"Compliment Sakura, then," Ino tried.

I noticed Kiba give me a long thoughtful look. "You look hot. There, do I get any points?" he asked Ino.

Ino sighed and shook her head in disappointment, adverting her attention back to me and Sasuke. "So, let's try this okay? I can tell for you two this is going to be very difficult." Sasuke and I both looked like grumpy little children who didn't want to be here. It was partially true. "... Now come on, go." Silence followed as Sasuke and I exchanged looks. Nothing came to mind - to either of us.

"Wow," Neji spoke first, busy on his laptop at the end of the table.

"Okay... Let's start on looks, then. Give each other at least one compliment about each other's looks. Go."

With crossed arms I looked up at Sasuke with a flat scowl. "... Your eyes are too close together."

"Your chest is as flat as a board."

"No it's not-" Kiba denied, only to be whacked in the head by Naruto.

Ino sweatdropped alongside Shikamaru while Neji glanced up slowly from his laptop at us, the 'couple'. "I thought they were supposed to compliment each other," Shikamaru whispered.

"I know," Ino said with a hand on her face. "Okay, let's try something else, guys. Personality. Compliment each other's personality. Go."

This time Sasuke went first, and he didn't take as long as I did the first time. "You're as stubborn as a donkey."

"Your head's shaped like a donkey's ass."

"What the hell does that have to do with my personality?"

"Well your personality matches that of one anyway."

Our repetitive insults continued back and forth in a casual but not yet violent manner that slowly came to disappoint Ino. Kiba, meanwhile, got a kick out of this training session as he listened to our witty remarks going to and fro. "Guys? Guys we can stop now," Ino tried to say, though Sasuke and I appeared to be in our own little world now.

"Looks like your've got your work cut out for you," Shikamaru said, amused by Ino's frustration.

"Gah! Is complimenting really that difficult for these two?" Ino asked no one in particular. "Hey! HEY!" Sasuke and I finally snapped out of it, though Ino's yell seemed to have quieted down most of our side of the cafeteria. "Just ONCE. Compliment each other ONCE without any smart-ass comment you hear!"

ONE HOUR LATER...

The two of us were once again in a back and forth battle of offensive wits, Ino growing all the more frustrated by the second, while the rest of the guys were already tired and bored out of their minds. Even Neji had decided to sneak off and leave when he found the right chance. The only real smart one of the group...

"Can we go home now?" Shikamaru asked loudly, laying his elbow and head on the table.

Naruto belched, downing his fifth soda. "Yeah, Sasuke an Sakura haven't complimented each other once. This is starting to seem like a lost cause." His sweatdrop grew as he saw Sasuke and me glare with static emitting from inbetween. "A lot."

Ino placed her hand over her forehead. "This is real sad. You two are hopeless."

"That's what we've been trying to tell you!" Sasuke and I both yelled, making Ino wince.

"Mmhmm!" With such an unusual squeal, all of our attention temporarily adverted towards Naruto, who was seated in an awkward pose with the most unattractive facial expression. "Okay I've really gotta go now...!"

"Well that's what you get for drinking so much soda," Kiba laughed.

"Shut up!" Naruto turned to Ino with tears in his eyes. Previously he had asked to leave, no, escape, but Ino always said no. "Please...!"

Ino sighed, slumping down into a seat as well. "Fine."

"Thank you!" Naruto dashed right away towards the bathrooms, practically leaving behind a trail of smoke as he held his hands between his legs. What an embarrassing sight, I thought.

Dejected a little, Ino took out her purse to check her money. "You know what? I'm hungry and I want a break from this. Who knew getting you two to act civil towards each other would require real work?" You think? "Anyone willing to go buy food with me?"

"Nah I- ow!" Shikamaru winced and looked towards Ino, who kept her gaze plainly down into her coin purse. He knew she had kicked him, but he didn't say anything. "Troublesome. I guess my legs could use the stretch. Fine. I'll go."

Kiba snickered and laid his arms behind his head, folding his feet across his ankles on Naruto's empty chair. "Do a guy a favor and get me a double cheesy burger while you're at it-"

"You could use the exercise too, dog-boy," Shikamaru said, dragging Kiba by the hood as he and Ino left.

Doing so left Sasuke and me along at the now abandoned table. It was obvious to see that they had left us alone on purpose, but despite that we exchanged another set of glares. "Why can't you just compliment me and get this over with? I wanna go home, too, you know," said Sasuke, leaning back in his chair.

"Then quit insulting me."

"You quit insulting me first."

"You."

"No you."

Wow. Are we really that bad. "Okay. Seriously, let's just get this over with. I know you're not... all that bad and I'm sure you don't think I'm all that bad either-"

"Well-"

"Don't start..." I warned.

Sasuke chuckled and turned his chair, leaning forward. "Okay. Have any strategies?"

"We're complimenting each other not playing chess," I remarked with an amused half smile. "With the others gone maybe we can focus. Let's just... try and give at least three back and forth compliments. Just three. If we can do at least that much even without Ino around, then we can call it a day. Deal?"

"Yeah..." Sasuke sighed, scratching the back of his head.

We shared a good solid awkward silence at first, avoiding each other's gaze as we tried to seriously think of the other's good quailities, but neither of us would say anything. I think that if just one of us would start, then the thoughts would just flow so... Think Sakura, think. "Um... your mother," I began, looking at my soda. "You care about your mom a lot." I remember how when he'd mention his mother when he and the guys invaded my house, Sasuke's whole being just seemed to ease into calmness or peace or... something. It's hard to explain. "It's nice. I admire that," I finished awkwardly.

"... You're stronger than you look," he finally summed up. "And not in the physical sense either." I looked up with an arched eyebrow, forcing Sasuke to turn away further. "I'll admit, having to deal with your mom and Kakashi definitely takes something. Dealing with anything annoying really takes a lot of stuff."

I stiffled a smile. "Does the same go for you when dealing with the rest of the guys when you don't all agree?"

Sasuke returned the smile. "Is that your second compliment?"

I shrugged. "I suppose it is?"

"Man, now I have to come up with another one." A few more seconds. "You're... not ugly... I guess."

My face remained the same. And what do you mean 'I guess'? "... Are you trying to call me pretty?"

"Hey I just said you're not ugly. Just take that and give me another compliment so we can go home."

I grinned. "Nope. Say it the straightforward way otherwise I won't count it as your second compliment."

"Geez you're a real piece of work," Sasuke groaned. This is revenge for making me ask you out on a date, Uchiha. "You're... pretty."

"Thank you," I nodded in approval, only for Sasuke to roll is eyes. Accomplishment, heh. Now for my third compliment. "You're a good teacher, when it comes to skateboarding, I mean."

A look of cockiness came over him. "Really now."

"Hey you're my only one. I have no one to compare you to so don't get any more high and mighty than you already are."

"Sure," Sasuke laughed in contentment.

"Well, you have one more compliment to give me. I'm waiting," I smiled, knowing he really does have a hard time coming up with these.

"You're... you're the first real female skater I respect. Somewhat."

My head jumped in positive surprise. "You respect me."

"Hey I said somewhat. Don't get all high and mighty on me now too, rich girl."

I took a sip of my soda. "What exactly do you have against female skaters anyhow?"

"There isn't really a grudge or anything," Sasuke shrugged. "They just seem like real posers, or at least the ones I've seen at the skate park in this town, anyway." He laughed. "Most girls around here will take up skating because their boyfriends are skaters, and they just want to keep up a decent image for their guys."

"Really?"

"I'm not the one who makes it up. I just see it." Sasuke stole my drink and took off the lid, taking a big gulp of my soda while he was at it. "That's why I never really go for the tomboy-type or the clinger or follower type. They're so fake."

"I never thought girls could be so complex," I realize.

"You'd be surprised," Sasuke laughed in amusement. I felt somewhat insulted as a result, but I kept quiet to avoid another argument. "Well, we have our three compliments down. I'm going home."

"W-Wait," I called as he walked around the chair. "Shouldn't we wait for Ino and the guys-?"

"You're here aren't ya? You wait for them and tell them we did we we came here to do. I have better stuff to do. Later."

"S-Sasuke!" But he was already walking away, or at least ignoring me. "This guy..." I frowned, resting my head on the table.

Tumblr: sammakesamess
DeviantArt: MemorySoul

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"Hey, Naruto?" I asked, taking comfort in the assuring arm that was still weighing over my shoulders. "You think you can do me a favor?"

"What is it?"

"You think you could somehow, like, come with us on the date?" I asked hesitantly, instantly catching Naruto's full attention.

x-x-x-x

"So Sasuke, when'd you meet Sakura?" Mom asked with intrigue.

"At school actually. We had a couple of classes together and I guess we just clicked," Sasuke said with that infamous player charm mixed in. Hmph. Dog.

Mom's face looked skeptical, in a good way though. "Mm, you must've done something to catch Sakura's attention." You bet he did. "It's not easy to catch her heart."

"No kidding," Sasuke muttered behind his hands, only for me to slap him on the arm.

x-x-x-x

"Who knows?" Neji sighed as he looked over to his group of friends. "Our group's full of oblivious dunces. It could take quite a while."